01.08.2024 – In the right place at the right time

With absolutely stunning flat seas we started our morning tours, allowing our passengers to observe the encountered dolphins up closely. It seemed like the Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) were observing us on the boat as well, constantly turning onto their sides with wide opened eyes. Even one of the few Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) which we found closer to shore approached us curiously, which is not something regular to happen. Both of those species feed mostly on fish relatively close to the surface, making them return to the surface to take breaths every couple of minutes. Our deep diving specialists instead, spend very long times under water in search of squid, regularly about 45 minutes or even up to an hour! To see these animals, you have to be in the right place at the right time.

Obviously there is a lot of luck involved in joining a trip into nature. But during our trips, believe it or not, being on time can be important. When we start our tours, our captains have already been calling the spotter on land and asked for any sightings. Depending on that, they will make a plan where to go during the trip. As the animals are always moving, plans can constantly change. But in case of some of the deep diving whales, as in Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), one can observe a diving pattern and estimate when and where they’ll surface between there long dives. This knowledge was even used to hunt this species in the past in Madeira and other regions. Nowadays, fortunately whale hunting has stopped in most of the world, and the knowledge about whales’ diving patterns is only used for marvelling them during our peaceful whale watching trips. Some of our today’s guests had the luck to be in the right place at the right time, encountering Sperm whales and even Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris). Others may have only gotten to see a glimpse before they went back foraging into the deep sea. Bon appetit.

By Sarah Kather

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins

13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Sperm whale

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins, Blainville’s beaked whales, Sperm whale

14:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Sperm whale

17:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins